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BUAV quoted in Sunday Times over beagle breeding controversy
10/07/2011
An expose in today's Sunday Times highlights the sad fate of beagles bred for research in the UK, at breeding company Harlan. An ex-employee contacted the Sunday Times with allegations that a trainer demonstrated how to separate fighting dogs by “punching and kicking them.” According to the Sunday Times, the ex-employee also "claimed some staff would use marker pens to daub swearwords across the faces of beagles, and that some animals even had pictures shaved into their fur."
Just a few years ago, the BUAV conducted an undercover investigation at Harlan's facility in Leicestershire. The investigation found (amongst other things):
- dog pens were overcrowded (there were up to 19 dogs in a pen)
- there was frequent fighting between bored and frustrated dogs with six fight-related dog deaths over a two year period
- no bedding was provided for whelping bitches (or any other dogs) and bitches were bred for years (up to 10 litters)
- the regular killing of healthy dogs who were considered surplus
- inter-cardiac injections were sometimes given to euthanase pups (the European Commission describes this process as ‘very painful’)
Breeding beagles for research is nothing short of a production line and tragically these dogs are viewed simply as products with a price tag on their heads. Those who don't make the grade are killed and the rest are doomed to a life of suffering and an almost certain death in a research laboratory.
There is already strong public concern about the plight of dogs in research and people will be shocked by the report in the Sunday Times to learn of the inadequate and unnatural conditions in which these beagles are bred at Harlan before even reaching the laboratory. Current regulations covering the care and housing of beagles are woefully inadequate and fail to ensure that the behavioural and psychological needs of the dogs are being met. The UK government is currently reviewing legislation governing the use of animals in research. It must ensure that changes are made.
Read the Sunday Times story (subscription required)
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/Environment/article667018.ece
Find out more about the BUAV investigation at Harlan.
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